614 653-8111 Sharhartnett@aol.com
Craniosacral Therapy in Columbus: How Gentle Touch, Somatic Awareness, and Visceral Manipulation Support Deep Healing

Craniosacral Therapy in Columbus: How Gentle Touch, Somatic Awareness, and Visceral Manipulation Support Deep Healing

craniosacral therapy worthington ohio

Call Craniosacral Therapist Near Me

Sharon Hartnett CST-D is a Certified Diplomate Craniosacral Therapist through the Upledger Institute

30 years of experience in mind/body centered healing and somatic work.

Telephone:  614 653-8111

Located in Worthington, Ohio and Serving the Columbus area.

Listening to the Body’s Deeper Intelligence

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle approach to listening to the body’s own deeper mind-body intelligence. Rather than trying to “fix” a symptom, I listen with my hands and my presence to what your system is already communicating. When the body feels safe enough to express itself, the central nervous system begins to balance, nourish, and restore itself from within.

This work opens communication with the essence and core of each individual. When the craniosacral rhythm is flowing freely, people often feel deeply relaxed, more aligned, and connected to themselves again. Over the years, I’ve seen clients leave sessions feeling lighter, clearer, and more at peace in both body and spirit.

Why I Was Drawn to Craniosacral Therapy

I first experienced craniosacral therapy decades ago. What struck me most was how such light touch could create such profound change. My body softened. My mind quieted. I felt healthier and more whole.

As a practitioner now, I use CST as the foundation of my work because it meets people exactly where they are. The body knows what it needs — my role is to listen deeply, stay neutral, and help the system find its own natural balance.

Many people assume that light touch is less effective than deep tissue work. In reality, working gently with the tissues and dialoguing with the nervous system is often far more powerful for lasting healing. The change arises organically rather than being imposed from the outside.

An Integrative, Trauma-Informed Approach

My practice combines craniosacral therapy, somatic therapy, visceral manipulation, and energy healing in an intuitive, trauma-informed way. Every session is customized to the person in front of me. I draw on what I’ve learned from the Hakomi Method, Barbara Brennan Healing Science, Upledger CST, and years of working with clients through trauma, injury, and personal transformation.

This integrative model allows the body to unwind from multiple levels — structural, emotional, energetic, and spiritual. Healing is never just physical; it’s a whole-person process.

What Happens in a Typical Session

When a client arrives, I begin by listening. The first few minutes are about connecting — hearing what brings them in, noticing their tone of voice, posture, and how they inhabit their body. Everything tells a story about how their system is adapting and compensating.

After about ten minutes, the client lies fully clothed on the table. I place my hands gently at different areas — head, sacrum, feet — and listen to the craniosacral rhythm. This subtle motion naturally goes into flexion and extension with pauses in between. I assess its quality, rate, and symmetry. Where there are restrictions, I support the tissues in finding balance.

Sessions last about 75 minutes, longer than most bodywork sessions, because I want clients to have time to drop into deep stillness without feeling rushed. Afterward, I ask what shifts they noticed and how they might integrate these changes into daily life. Healing continues long after the session ends.

How I Track Progress

Progress often shows up in small but meaningful ways — easier movement, deeper sleep, less anxiety, or feeling more “present” inside the body. Each session, I ask questions to help clients notice what’s changing.

Because the work is so individualized, I often suggest people start with three sessions to feel how their system responds. From there, we adjust frequency based on their goals and progress. Some people come short-term for an acute issue; others choose ongoing sessions for maintenance, stress relief, and emotional regulation.

Somatic Therapy: Bringing Awareness and Empowerment

Somatic therapy helps clients develop awareness of how emotions and experiences live in the body. Using a Hakomi approach, I notice subtle cues — a breath held, a shoulder tightening — and may reflect or ask mindful questions to bring unconscious patterns to light.

Sometimes, we explore these through small “experiments” in awareness. This isn’t talk therapy; it’s an embodied inquiry that helps people discover their own inner wisdom. When someone becomes more self-aware, they naturally become more self-empowered. They begin to trust their body again and make new choices from a grounded place.

Visceral Manipulation: Restoring Internal Balance

Visceral manipulation focuses on the gentle mobilization of the organs and their connective tissues. Every organ in the body needs a certain freedom of motion to function optimally. When there’s restriction — from injury, surgery, posture, or emotional tension — it can affect digestion, breathing, or pelvic health.

I often work with women who experience pelvic discomfort, digestive issues, or breathing limitations. Through subtle assessment and touch, I help release restrictions so the organs can move in harmony again. This work often relieves pain, improves range of motion, and restores vitality throughout the entire system.

A Trauma-Informed Lens

Over the years, I’ve worked with many women who have experienced sexual abuse or boundary violations. Healing touch must always be guided by safety and choice. Sometimes clients say they want touch but their body shows hesitation. In those cases, we pause and explore what safety feels like together before any physical work begins.

Empowerment is at the heart of trauma-informed care. My goal is never to override a client’s readiness but to help them rebuild trust in their own boundaries and sensations. Healing is not about forcing release — it’s about re-establishing connection to the self in a way that feels deeply safe.

Real Stories of Change

Over the years, I’ve witnessed remarkable outcomes — not because of me, but because of how powerfully the body can heal when listened to.

  • Tinnitus relief: A woman came in with persistent tinnitus that had been plaguing her for months. By the end of the session, the ringing had stopped — and it remained quiet when we followed up later.
  • Chronic headaches: Another client had experienced daily headaches for six years. Within ten minutes of gentle craniosacral work, the pain disappeared and stayed away.
  • Post-accident recovery: A young woman who’d been in a car accident and lost her baby struggled to walk and was overwhelmed by grief. After ten sessions, she could move more freely, felt calmer, and began reconnecting with life.
  • Concussion and sensory overload: One woman with foggy thinking and extreme light sensitivity after a concussion felt clear enough after ten sessions to resume outdoor activities and adventures again.
  • TMJ Jaw and mouthwork that released tension in the jaw and joints.
  • Post Surgery Recovery A client recovered quickly after breast surgery.  Her range of motion and flow was much better.

Not every case shifts this quickly — each person’s healing journey unfolds uniquely. But these stories remind me daily of why I do this work.

Physiological and Energetic Perspectives

Physiologically, I believe that every relationship and life experience influences the body. When I come from my higher self — grounded, experienced, and connected — it opens communication down to the cellular and even quantum level. The body begins to reorganize itself toward health.

Energetically, I work with both flow and structure. Sometimes that means clearing congestion in the chakras or balancing the auric field. These subtle levels often correspond directly to physical tension and emotional holding patterns.

Who Can Benefit

Craniosacral therapy can benefit nearly anyone — from babies to seniors. I work with people dealing with:

  • Back and neck pain
  • Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue
  • Migraines and headaches
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Nervous-system dysregulation
  • Emotional trauma
  • Postural imbalances and limited range of motion
  • A general sense of disconnection or depletion
  • TMJ Relief

The only contraindications are conditions like active aneurysms, blood clots, or other medical issues that require more acute care. Otherwise, this work supports overall wellness and prevention by helping the body function at its best.

A Community Approach to Healing

Since moving to the Worthington area, I’ve noticed a need for more connection among bodyworkers and healers. I believe in collaboration and often refer clients to other trusted professionals — physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, and counselors — to make sure they get the most comprehensive support possible.

Putting the client’s needs first means honoring all aspects of their healing. True wellness happens when we see the whole person, not just a symptom.

Why I Do This Work

I do this work because I believe each of us is capable of evolving into the best version of ourselves. My teachers and experiences have shown me that living with core values — curiosity, compassion, and authenticity — brings meaning and purpose to life.

When we learn to listen to the wisdom of the body, life begins to flow differently. Healing is not just about relief from pain; it’s about remembering who we truly are and allowing life to support us fully.

Begin Your Own Healing Journey

If you’re curious about how craniosacral therapy, somatic therapy, or visceral manipulation can help you, I’d love to meet you.

My 75-minute sessions in Worthington, Ohio, offer a peaceful space to unwind, rebalance, and reconnect with your own inner wisdom.

You can reach me through craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com or call 614-653-8111 to schedule an appointment. Together, we’ll explore what your body is ready to release — and what new possibilities it’s ready to open to.

Ankle Freedom, Upright Posture: A Craniosacral Perspective on Neck Health — Columbus Insights

Ankle Freedom, Upright Posture: A Craniosacral Perspective on Neck Health — Columbus Insights

Craniosacral Approach: Ankle Mobility for Better Posture & Neck Health in Columbus

After 30 years of being a craniosacral therapist and doing integrative types of bodywork,  it dawned on me how very important it is to free up the ankles in order for the neck to do the same.

 

A Bit about the Fascial System

The fascial system forms a continuous integrated architecture that literally connects your feet to your head.  Working with this seamless three dimensional connective tissue network beginning at the ankles and feet can make a huge difference in how you feel and move in your body.  It also directly affects the neck and it’s ability to sidebend, rotate and move in various directions.

Fascia is a seamless three dimensional connective tissue network that envelopes muscles, bones, organs, nerves and vessels.  It allows global integration and force transmission.  It is the medium through which all of life dialogues in my opinion.

In any case, recently what I have been noticing is that people who come in with neck issues, usually have a tightness in their lateral line.  That begins at the peroneous muscles and goes up through the glutes, transferring possible tension up into the SCM muslces and such.  Often this can lead to pain with headaches and migraines. There has to be efficient flow and communication from the head to the body, and the body to the head through the thoracic inlet.

Secondly, the plantar fascia and posterior needs to be considered as it deals with the arch and  gait for walking and movement.

We have other lines too from the toes which run up to the pelvis to the head as well.  So many relationships with which to work in order to restore better mobility and posture.

Your Goals with Craniosacral Therapy for your Health

The neck may be your weakest link.  You may come in with neck pain, and issues like migraines, headaches, and tinnitus.  You may believe that you need only local massage to release pain.  But this is NOT a local muscle problem.

With Craniosacral Therapy, we approach the whole body. As a Structural integration Therapist I look at the whole body. The reason is- every movemenet we make is about interconnected patterns.  What brings about optimal health and motion is addressing all the parts and patterns which add up to the whole.

As a somatic therapist, I know that you want to be feeling your best. I have to say though that most times, working only on the neck won’t bring you long term relief.  Everything needs to change to create better order and integration.

Whole body attention is much more comprehensive and effective.  You deserve to come in for treatments and to have your goals reached which most often are pain relief and better motibility. It is true that the neck probably needs a lot of attention, but the  thoracic inlet, head and everything down to your ankles and toes does need to be included  too in most cases.

My Goals for You with Craniosacral Therapy

First of all, my goal is whatever your goal is for yourself.  Each Craniosacral Therapy treatment is based on how your body communicates through the craniosacral system.  Bodies know how to move into the direction of healing, and I have faith in that dynamic to lead the session. In addition, I visually check your fascial alignment, and feel for twists, turns or any irregularities.  I treat based on what you and your body are telling me.  Each session is unique, as it should be as each person has their own way of developing and holding posture.

I find that by trusting the body’s communication and presnetation of patterns is the most effective way to treat.

Something I would like to invite you to do at home.

If your neck tightenss is  bothering  you, lie on the floor and feel how your neck and feet position themselves.  Are they even when you look?  Flexing your feet and pointing them, are you tight or do you move freely.  Can you move your feet from right to left and left to right with ease?  When you stand up, can you lift your toes? Do you stand on each side of your heal and the balls of your feet with balance.  What do your arches look and feel like?  Use your imagination and try to move your feet in many different planes of movement and see  what is limited and what is not.

After about 5 minutes of testing.  Get back on the floor.  Breathe in for 4 and out for 6.  Check in with your body and see how it feels after just the test. Do your ankles feel better?  Your neck.  Make a practice of finding ways to increase your mobility.

With Craniosacral Therapy, the motion tells me everything.  On a deeper level, I listen to what the fluids and nervous system show me.  I will help the body find alignment, and release tensions.  Even more powerful is helping you to center and integrate new changes that give you more freedom in your body.

My message to you is that everything is interconnected in regards to your posture. Your fascia and the Craniosacral System are key to releasing dysfunctional patterns.  However long it took you to get into a pain pattern- be patience and take your time to heal, and get well again.  You deserve Seslf-Care!

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

614 653-8111

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

 

 

How to Feel Awesome? Releasing the barriers to Healing

Creating an Awesome Life from Within

Unlocking the Awsome in Your Life!

“Be Still and Know”.  A quote by Dr. William Sutherland sums it up best.

Right now in the world, there is so much chaos and a push to divide. I have clients who are cancelling because they are breaking away from those whom they love, and they don’t want to drive back up here because it’s too emotionally painful.  Families and friends are fighting because they are so involved with the outer conflicts in the world, but don’t remember how to find peace inside.

If you want to re-discover your awesome Self, it may take some quieting down and mindfulness.  Healer- you must learn to heal yourself before you can mend breaks that you don’t understand.

As a Wellness guide and a Craniosacral Therapist, I would recommend acknowledging  releasing and transforming any obstacles that are in the way of feeling your awesome self.  Bring awareness to your breath and breathe,  connect with your body, and deeper wisdom. Some tools you can use are:  self-inquiry (check out www.thework.com ), connect to nature and grounding. Most importantly, remember compassion over judgment and the power of community and service connection!

When the world is feeling loud, it’s enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed, fearful, angry or lost. If you are feeling that way, know that your emotions are valid. They are your understanding about how you feel.  However if they are keeping you get stuck move forward with some help.

Take some time to breathe, and to slow down.  It’s there that you can anchor it to your inner resources.

If you are having a difficult time doing this by yourself, an ally can help.  Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle manual approach to working with the body to alleviate chronic stress.  It’s great in helping to release physical barriers to deeper healing, but also with Somato-Emotional Release, it can help move that energy that is keeping you feeling stuck and upset.

Your inner wisdom knows how to ground and release. It’s just sometimes easeir to have someone help facilitate the process.

To learn more about Craniosacral Therapy, check out www.Upledger.com.  It’s a fantastic way to awaken your awesome self again.

If you are local to the Columbus, Ohio area, give me a call, and I offer free 15 minute phone for any Craniosacral Therapy questions you may have.

Move from overwhelm into the Best Verstion of yourself.  You can Do it!

Warmly,

Sharon Hartnett

614 653-8111

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

For google reviews: https://g.co/kgs/v2UxQEt

 

 

 

How to Best Express Your Emotions Effectively

Emotional Intelligence<br />

The Transformation of Raw Emotions Into Emotional Intelligence

Speaking to Neurodivergence

Living with a neurodivergent mind can come with a range of emotions and challenges. As each individual is unique, this can show up in many ways. When I speak of neurodivergence, I am referring to those of us who cognitively process information differently than neurotypical thinkers.  This can include:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Unique social communication challenges, sensory sensitivities, and repetitive behaviors.  I recommend the Telepathy Tapes to learn more about this.
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Features of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
  • Dyslexia: Difficulty with language skills, especially reading.
  • Dyscalculia: Difficulty with performing basic arithmetic.
  • Dyspraxia: Issues related to physical coordination.
  • Tourette’s Syndrome: Involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations.
  • Down’s Syndrome: Genetic disorder causing developmental and intellectual delays.

Stress, in particular, among neurodivert people may play a big part in keeping neurodivergent thinkers feeling isolated and alone. Our feelings, emotions,  and expressions can easily be misunderstood or misinterpreted. However, as we learn to understand our raw and vulnerable selves better, and also as more people learn to understand and accept people who seem different, for the whole, it allows for more diversity and creativity. We each have our gifts as well.  Neurodivergent thinkers can actually be super creative out of the box thinkers, and help come up with innovate ideas to help resolve problems.

Common issues with Emotions with Neurodivergence:

Social Anxiety

I know that sometimes just being in the same space as other people alerts the nervous system into hypersensitivity. A neurodivergent person could end up feeling sensory overload when they detect conflict or too much energy around them. Maybe it is pressure to perform or to look like everyone else.  Maybe coming up with words to communicate is hard.  In this case,  the healing response might be to ground or to limit overstimulation so that we can feel safe in our emotions.

Time Management

It may be difficult to keep focused or on schedule. People may become impatient or uncomfortable if they don’t understand or feel at ease with the boundaries and patterns  which are unfamiliar.  Especially with procrastination. It’s easy for people to think we are lazy or that we don’t want to partipate, or do the work. For healing, it’s important to realize that everyone is organized differently and healthy processing time for some may be to do nothing until ready to make the next move.

    Self Blame

    It’s easy to blame oneself when others who are neurotypical don’t understand why we don’t have the same social cues or regulation. Many neurodivergent people might believe they are the problem, when actually they are not. They are just different. It’s vital they they are reflected back as valuable in their authenticity and contributions.  They should not have to “mask” in order to be accepted or valued.  Once we all see the light in each other, the more the Whole can evolve.

      Emotional Woundings

      Neurodivergent individuals can feel emotionally chaotic at time. Their experiences may feel more hightened, and they don’t know the best way to respond.  It’s important that they find supportive people to help them to understand.  In today’s world, sometime emotions get a bad wrap.  I’d suggest that many neurodivergent thinkers are actually more emotionally mature if they decide to work through what comes up for them.  They have to work and move through so much more.  It’s an art and a skill to relate when it doesn’t come easily.

        Physically

         

        They may need more rest and down time to integrate with introspection.

         

        Unique Communication Styles

        While neurodivergent people may not always communicate in ways that others expect, their style can bring fresh insights or directness. For example, individuals on the autism spectrum might be incredibly honest and straightforward, offering clarity in situations where others might shy away from being so direct.

         

        Being good at understanding and managing emotions can be a challenge for neurotypical thinkers. However, with healthy support, they can learn how to deal with life and make better decisions based on their unique perspectives in life.  Being mindful, as we learn to stay more in the moment, and get to know ourselves, moving from stress to emotional intelligence moves us and humanity forward.   We are all in this thing called humanity together.

         

         

         

         


         

        If you are interested in a body centered therapy to help you to ground, feel more embodied and integrated, check out the Upledger Institute for a therapist near you.

        Sharon Hartnett CST-D

        614 653-8111

        3 Big Benefits of Receiving Structural Integration Therapy

        3 Big Benefits of Receiving Structural Integration Therapy

        Structural Integration Columbus

        How Structural Integration Chose Me.

        The miracles of fascia work.

        Structural Integration really helped me when I was in my 30’s after having children. My body was so out of alignment, especially after carrying children on my hip and bending over so much. The smartest thing I did was to find a local Rolfer. After 10 sessions, I felt so much longer and spacious, I decided to study it with another local teacher, John Latz for 18 months.

        When I lived in the Washington DC area, and Florida, I had a wonderful private practice where I did mostly Structural Integration for many years. Eventually though, as I began to get older, I decided to move more into the Craniosacral Therapy because it’s easier on the body. What I liked about this transition is that both consider the fascia and have similar benefit, but the technques are different. Also, neither are truly considered massage, but instead manual therapy with their own unique perspective to healing.

        For about the last 15 years, I have lived in the Columbus, Ohio area, and my primary focus is the Upledger Craniosacral Sessions. However, I still take into account the perspective of structural integration and stacking the body in alignment with the efforlessness of gravity consideration. Also, by addressing imbalances in posture, through the series, even with a gentle approach, it helps to reduce strain on muscles, joints, ligaments and lends to comfort in daily living. By working with the fasica, both in SI work and Craniosacral Therapy, we can help release restrictions, and unzip the body into new possibilities.

        Three benefits I see often are:

        1.  More energy

        2.  Better Balance

        3.  Improved Circulation and Motion

        I believe that fascia is an incredible system that is still being uncovered and understood.  However, therapist have known this for a long time.  We have witnessed the strength and power of change with the fascia over and over again.

        As I stated, I no longer do primarily Structural Integration, but I do “integrate” it into my Craniosacral Work.  It’s much more gentle, and more inclusive with its attention on the Craniosacral System and the rhthym.  I do sort of a combination with the fascial awareness.  It’s all about letting go of stress can creating a better environment for healing.

        If you would like to find out more about how I work, I do offer a free 15 phone consultation.   703 509-1792

        Sharon Hartnett CST-D

        614 653-8111

        www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

         

         

        How to Develop a Good Plan for Stress Management

        How to Develop a Good Plan for Stress Management

        Stress Management

        Who needs stress?

        Well, stress can be beneficial.  It can help your performance in any part of your life if it is used in a positive way. However, chronic stress is a different matter. Long-term stress can be a major contributor to numerous health problems.

        Fortunately, there are some tools that you can learn to help you stay healthy in your mind and body connection. Addressing stress as soon as possible can significantly shift your mindset. An intentional practice of committing to self-care can help avoid or minimize anxiety, depression, cardiovascular diseases and chronic pain.

        If you haven’t already come up with a plan for stress managment, here are a few ideas:

        1. Mindfulness, prayer and meditation can help reduce cortisol levels and bring one to center. This is a practice of becoming fully aware in the moment through experience and observation.  Curiousity also helps set the stage for discovering inner peace.
        2. Holistic and Complementary practices like Craniosacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Acupuncture have shown to be very helpful with stress management.
        3. Breathing Exercises can shift you more into a calm state.  One that I recommend is breathing in to a slow count of 4, exhale to 6 and pause. In your practice continue to lengthen the pause at the end of the exhale. Also, practice diaphragmatic breathing, imagining your breath filling the whole ribcage as it expands and contracts. Allow the breath to move all the way to the pelvic floor.
        4. Check with your physician about the Role of Nutrition:  omega 3, magnesium and certaine B vitamins support brain health, and help to regulate emotions.
        5. Sleep.  It’s so important to get enough rest.  When you sleep well your brain is able to clear through the glymphatic system.  This can help you to feel much better restored, and to heal.  A good sleep routine is imperative to good health.

        Being in a Healing Practice for close to 30 years, I have seen so many people with chronic stress.I want you to know that it’s possible to step away from that. However, it does mean making a choice to change your life.  Your power comes in the form of doing things that bring you back to your balanced and healthy Self.

        If you have any questions, how I can help you as a Craniosacral Therapist, I offer a free 15 phone consultation.

        Sharon Hartnett CST-D

        614 653-8111

        Serving the Columbus Ohio Area

        www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com